As a designer, Abra is driven by character-grounded design. This comes from her background in Anthropology and Religion, which greatly informs the way she thinks about the world. When researching for a show, one of the first things she asks are “how do these characters listen, and what can we learn from them?” She sees theater as inherently politically and socially informed, and looks for collaborative communities of artists and professionals that do not shy away from challenging audiences to think critically.
Abra grew up in Rhode Island, where theatre became an important part of her life at age five. She holds a BA in Anthropology and Religion from the University of Vermont. After graduating, she jumped around to apprenticeships at Baltimore Center Stage (2019-2020) and the Santa Fe Opera (2021). She is currently based in Burlington, Vermont as the Event Manager at Burlington City Arts, where she produces events and festivals year-round.
ABRA CLAWSON DESIGN 